State Senator Cancels Campus Appearance in B.U. Backlash

In the wake of the protests and counter protests by “Turning Point USA” and “Progressive Leaders of Tomorrow” stirring heated reaction at Binghamton University, New York State Senator Fred Akshar says he is cancelling his scheduled appearance on campus this week.

The Binghamton Republican said in a statement he is “disgusted by the chaos we’ve witnessed erupt across the .. campus over the past several days.”

Akshar says he was scheduled to speak at an event sponsored by the Southern Tier Young Professionals and the Binghamton University Center for Civic Engagement.  The Senator said “it’s become clear to me that Binghamton University’s campus has no longer become suitable for civic engagement.”

The November 18 lecture by a former adviser to President Donald Trump, economist Doctor Arthur Laffer lasted only a couple minutes before a protester shouted him down. That outburst was returned with chants for free speech from organizers of the guest lecture and their supporters.

Two protesters were removed by law enforcement.

The protesters have been claiming an environment of racism and protesting gun violence both at the November 14 tabling events and the November 18 scheduled lecture by Dr. Laffer.

Laffer is a noted conservative, considered the father of supply-side economics, was a member of President Ronald Reagan’s Economic Policy Advisory Board and was recently awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Donald Trump.